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CyberArk Identity vs Microsoft Identity Manager comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 1, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
5.0
Many users find CyberArk Identity valuable for saving time, enhancing security, fostering efficiency, and yielding beneficial returns.
Sentiment score
5.1
Microsoft Identity Manager improves security and efficiency, offering up to 20% time savings and simplifying training with standardization.
I have seen over 30% return on investment due to the improvement in operational efficiencies through automation, which enhances productivity.
Private Wealth Advisor at Arima Fund Limited
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.4
CyberArk Identity's customer service is generally effective but faces criticism for response delays and expertise inconsistencies.
Sentiment score
7.2
Microsoft Identity Manager's customer service is reliable, with thorough engagement but varying response speed and documentation quality. Ratings average 7-9/10.
They resolved the problem immediately after I reported it, on the same day, within one hour.
Access Management Analyst at Telefónica
They respond immediately when requests are raised, and they are always available for priority one tickets.
Lead Identity Engineer at a tech vendor with 501-1,000 employees
I received prompt responses and support, which I would rate as very good.
Cybersecurity Delivery Analyst at Accenture
I rate the technical support nine out of ten.
CISO at a financial services firm with 501-1,000 employees
It is important to get to the right engineer quickly, but the process sometimes involves multiple levels before reaching the best support.
Consultant at IOM - UN Migration
The technical support is of good quality
Senior SOC Developer at XVE Security
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.4
CyberArk Identity is praised for its scalability, accommodating diverse company sizes and ease of license expansion.
Sentiment score
6.8
Microsoft Identity Manager is ideal for enterprises, not small businesses, with scalability issues for many users; consider Azure AD.
We can use it on different phones and computers, demonstrating its scalability.
Program associate at IMAGINE HER
When delving deep into the concepts, there is a lot to address and learn, especially when facing real-time scenarios.
Cybersecurity Delivery Analyst at Accenture
You can scale it out pretty easily, and you can implement it very small.
Cloud Specialist at Perini Beheer
In terms of scalability, Microsoft Identity Manager allows management of up to 400,000 objects with a standard configuration.
Consultant at IOM - UN Migration
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.0
CyberArk Identity is highly praised for its reliable stability, quick issue resolution, and effective performance, despite network connectivity challenges.
Sentiment score
7.6
Microsoft Identity Manager is highly stable and reliable, with users rating its performance between eight to nine out of ten.
We no longer have our data infiltrated by unauthorized persons, and tracking actions within the system has become very easy.
Private Wealth Advisor at Arima Fund Limited
When you have it in the cloud, you have CyberArk every time you need it.
Access Management Analyst at Telefónica
With a stable network, due to the redundant data centers across the globe, it is a lot easier to use as a SaaS solution.
Senior Cyber Security Specialist Architect at a tech consulting company with 11-50 employees
Not all conditions can be satisfied at all times, leading to some employee or user accounts experiencing deviations and syncing issues.
Consultant at IOM - UN Migration
 

Room For Improvement

CyberArk Identity requires user interface improvements, better integration, enhanced documentation, and easier deployment for improved adoption and operations.
Microsoft Identity Manager struggles with connectivity, integration, and support, needing better interfaces, documentation, and Azure Active Directory integration.
It would be helpful if they released a generalized document for processes such as migration.
Cybersecurity Delivery Analyst at Accenture
Integration or deployment is extremely difficult for CyberArk Identity.
Head of IT at Skutin Solutions
There's a need to enhance network performance.
Senior Technology Manager at a outsourcing company with 501-1,000 employees
Very often customers require real-time or almost real-time updates, and this feature is missing in Microsoft Identity Manager.
System Engineer 2 at a retailer with 10,001+ employees
The current policy management features are limited, and custom, flexible policies would be ideal.
Senior SOC Developer at XVE Security
While the initial setup of Microsoft Identity Manager is not completely complex, migrating or upgrading to a new version can be complex and requires multiple backups to ensure it goes smoothly.
Consultant at IOM - UN Migration
 

Setup Cost

CyberArk Identity pricing is high but justified for enterprises with discounts and flexible licensing to balance costs.
Microsoft Identity Manager is cost-effective when bundled with premium licenses, despite mixed reviews on its pricing and value.
Regarding pricing, it can be quite a lot for small companies.
Access Management Analyst at Telefónica
The pricing is acceptable.
Program associate at IMAGINE HER
If I am not going fully cloud, there are additional resources I will need to purchase, such as spinning more VMs or acquiring an HSM device to encrypt the vault.
Head of IT at Skutin Solutions
Microsoft's licenses are bundled, allowing access to multiple services, which is beneficial.
CISO at a financial services firm with 501-1,000 employees
The pricing of Microsoft Identity Manager is expensive.
Senior SOC Developer at XVE Security
Regarding pricing, setup costs, and licensing of Microsoft Identity Manager, it has a couple of cloud connectors that can sync directly with the O365 admin center, which is good enough.
Consultant at IOM - UN Migration
 

Valuable Features

CyberArk Identity enhances security and efficiency through integrations, password management, user monitoring, and comprehensive compliance and risk analysis tools.
Microsoft Identity Manager enhances security with Single Sign-On and integrates seamlessly with Office 365 and Active Directory.
It impacts zero trust security strategies. It prevents lateral movements in the organization.
Head of IT at Skutin Solutions
The two-factor authentication is very important, but the fact that every account is being regenerated every time we use it is the most important security feature for us.
Cloud Specialist at Perini Beheer
It is the most powerful access management system.
Access Management Analyst at Telefónica
The features of Microsoft Identity Manager that have been most impactful in improving security and compliance include the granular policies, report, and the ability to gain end-to-end visibility for each user.
CISO at a financial services firm with 501-1,000 employees
These features have been impactful in improving our security and compliance.
Senior SOC Developer at XVE Security
The best features of Microsoft Identity Manager are its 100% compatibility with Active Directory.
Consultant at IOM - UN Migration
 

Categories and Ranking

CyberArk Identity
Ranking in Identity Management (IM)
9th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.7
Number of Reviews
29
Ranking in other categories
Authentication Systems (9th), Authorization Software (3rd), Enterprise Password Managers (7th), User Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) (10th), Access Management (7th), Active Directory Management (6th), Cloud Resource Access Management (2nd), Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) (6th)
Microsoft Identity Manager
Ranking in Identity Management (IM)
11th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.4
Number of Reviews
25
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2026, in the Identity Management (IM) category, the mindshare of CyberArk Identity is 2.1%, up from 1.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Identity Manager is 2.1%, down from 4.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Identity Management (IM) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
CyberArk Identity2.1%
Microsoft Identity Manager2.1%
Other95.8%
Identity Management (IM)
 

Featured Reviews

Hariharan Thangasamy - PeerSpot reviewer
Cybersecurity Delivery Analyst at Accenture
Has strengthened privileged access control and improved audit visibility through session monitoring and password rotation
On the identity product side, it is awesome. However, they can improve in the documentation parts. For example, if there is a migration process, I can see the maximum customers are moving from self-hosted to on-premises or from on-premises to the cloud. It would be helpful if they released a generalized document for processes such as migration. A clear overview document would assist us in understanding more about the tool, configurations, and automations to enhance our security. Regarding the initial setup of CyberArk Identity, I faced some challenges. At some points, I could not find proper documentation for deploying, enhancing, or integrating with other components. I could not find the proper documentation in the community portal.
RameshKumar9 - PeerSpot reviewer
Consultant at IOM - UN Migration
Supports reliable identity management and custom policy design
Microsoft Identity Manager can be improved by integrating it with Entra ID as a SaaS application or by having a cloud-based connector, as it is currently limited to on-prem scenarios, and a combination of both would be a great solution compared to competitors such as SailPoint or One Identity Manager. While the initial setup of Microsoft Identity Manager is not completely complex, migrating or upgrading to a new version can be complex and requires multiple backups to ensure it goes smoothly.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
14%
Computer Software Company
11%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Healthcare Company
6%
Government
11%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Educational Organization
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business20
Midsize Enterprise4
Large Enterprise10
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business13
Midsize Enterprise3
Large Enterprise11
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about CyberArk Identity?
The integration capabilities, ability to integrate CyberArk into the overall IBB strategy of our current clients.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for CyberArk Identity?
I am not certain about CyberArk Identity's exact pricing model. For comparison, Okta was around five dollars per user. CyberArk Identity offers good discounts to some clients, which influences thei...
What needs improvement with CyberArk Identity?
We do not specifically use the password vaulting feature of CyberArk Identity. The centralized user dashboard of CyberArk Identity has not been that important for us. If it would be possible to sha...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Identity Manager?
Regarding pricing, setup costs, and licensing of Microsoft Identity Manager, it has a couple of cloud connectors that can sync directly with the O365 admin center, which is good enough, but Entra I...
What needs improvement with Microsoft Identity Manager?
Microsoft Identity Manager can be improved by integrating it with Entra ID as a SaaS application or by having a cloud-based connector, as it is currently limited to on-prem scenarios, and a combina...
What is your primary use case for Microsoft Identity Manager?
The typical use case for Microsoft Identity Manager is to automate Active Directory, where it is responsible for onboarding new employees to on-premises AD or to the cloud based on certain criteria.
 

Also Known As

Idaptive
MIM, Forefront Identity Manager, FIM, MS Identity Manager
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

MLB, Citi, Pfizer, SulAmerica, GE Capital, Shiseido
Dow Chemical Company (Dow), Whole Foods Market
Find out what your peers are saying about CyberArk Identity vs. Microsoft Identity Manager and other solutions. Updated: February 2026.
881,733 professionals have used our research since 2012.